Refugee and Immigrant Programs

CDTA has partnered with the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants to provide transitional assistance to people new to this country and to encourage transit use. Therefore, participants must live close to a CDTA bus stop.

The goal of the program is to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips among newly arrived immigrant and refugee populations of the Capital Region. The program introduces people to the region’s transit services before they buy a car, encouraging long-term transit use and reducing their likelihood to purchase an older, more polluting vehicle in the long term.

The Transit for Immigrants and Refugees program includes education (transit training) and subsidy (free Navigator cards for a maximum of nine months) components. Eligible participants are required to take pre- and post-program surveys about their travel habits and preferences.

Since its inception, the program has already shown signs of leading to increased employment as well as increased attendance at English classes and job preparation workshops. Thus, the program not only increases CDTA ridership but also promotes the self-sufficiency of newly arrived immigrants.